Well pump



Jhlii'i, 1928.

1,677,802 J. STRUBLE WELL PUMP" Filed Aug. 16, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 1 I ATTORNEY July 17, 1928. v 1,677,802.

J. F. STRUBLE WELL PUMP Filed Aug.16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A A .STAWJLE ATTORNEY Patented July 17, 1928.

JAMES ESTRUBLE, 0F HUTCHINSQN, KANSAS.

WELL rum.

Application filed August 16, 1927. 'Serial No. 213,379.

This invention relates to water elevating devices for wells of the type in which a plurality of chain or cable carried pistons are utilized to draw the water'from the well or other reservoir upwardly through a suction tube to a discharge point.

One object ofthe presentinvention is to improve the operation of suction pumps of this general character by means relieving the compression which occurs as the suction creating piston entersthe base of the suction cylinder of the pump.

A further object of the invention is the improvement of the form and structure of the pistons or buckets, so-called, employed in this type of pump to create the water elevating suction. To this end a featureof the invention consists in a construction of piston providing a guiding means effective to center and maintain the piston centered in the suction tube; also to so construct the piston as to provide for its economical manufacture and to facilitate replacementjof the piston packing element thereof. These and other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from a reading of the following 'detailed specification in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof and in which: V

Figure 1 is a'view in elevation of a chain pump embodying the improvements of'the present invention installed in a well.

Figure 2 ,is' a transverse vertical section through the pump'as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is ahorizontal section on the line 83 of Figure 2 showing the pump cylinder support.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation ofthe bucket or piston chain wheel or sprocket mounted at the top and bottom of the pump casing.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the chain wheel as mounted on its journalling shaft. 1 7

Figures 6 and 7 are side elevations of opposite sides of the pump piston of the pres ent invention, and,

I Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7. 7

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a well or other reservoir opening, the top of which is partly. closed by the slab 2 having a central opening for the upper pump cylinder section 3 andfor the endless PiStOIhCil-IIYlflg chain 41 The pump cylinder comprises the top and bottom sections 3 and 5 having ends tapered to a reduced diameter andjolned to theintermediate or central suction cylinder 6., The bottom section 5 at its pointof junction with the suction cylinder 6 may be shouldered toprovide a smooth joint. The sections 3, 5 and 6, may be cast as onefalthough it is preferable to have them separate fromthe pump cylinder because'of the varying depths of wells.

The bottom section 5 carries spaced 'depending arms '7 forming trunnions in which are journalled the ends, of shaft 8 on which is keyed the hub 9 of a chain sprocket wheel 10. At the upper end similar brackets 11 extend upwardly from the upper end of pump section 3 and serve as journals for shaft 12 mounting chain sprocket wheel 13 and extended beyond a bracket at one end and provided with a crank handle 14 for operating. The arms, shafts and sprocket wheels, top and bottom of the cylinder are of identical construction. The upper section 3 of the pump is provided with a spout 15 and the pump sections withtheir attached sprocket wheels and'the chain and piston buckets hereinafter described are supported from the top of the well by means of suitable bars'16 spanning the opening in slab 2 and carrying, by means of clamping bolts '17, opposed arcuate-clamping blocks 18, whichare drawn by the bolts firmly against and into clamping engagement with the upper section 3 of the cylinder.

, The sprocket wheels lOand 13are of identical construction. A plurality of spokes 19 support a. polygonal rim 20 whose sides are tangential to a circle concentric with the hub 9 and'which are formed with a plurality of pairs of reversely directed chain link hooks 21, and with a pistonreceiving gap 22 located in the perimeter of the wheel between two groups of hooks 21.

' The endless chain running over the sprocket wheels 10 and '13 comprises a series of alternating spaced outer-and inner links 23 pivotally connected by pivot studs 2a inserted through spacing sleeves 25. The pistons hereinafter described occupy the space of one pair of links and. are located onthe endless link chain at uniform distances representing the perimetric length of the sprocket wheels or a multiplethereof. Obviously, the sprocket wheels arepositioned to center the istons and chain relatively to the pump cylinders 3, 5 and Gas the chain and pistons enter and leave the cylinders.

in order to secure the maximum suction, the pistons should be centered in the cylinder 6 and in order that the pistons themselves give maximum service, their construction should combine simplicity with strength and a construction admitting of ready replacement of worn packing washers as well as emergency repairs.

l have therefore provided a construction of pump piston having these tunctions and advantages. The pistons are formed with circular heads 27 which may be of hardwood with chamtered edges, the diameter of the heads being slightly less than that of the suction cylinder 6. Downwardly tapering curved side pieces 28 which may be of pressed steel, have base flanges 29 by means of which they are rigidly secured at their base to the top taco of the head. The sides 23 are curved to conform to the maximuni diameter of the head and extend vertically upward from its edge. Their outer sides are faced with a sheet of leather or other ap propriate material 28.

The head 27, cent-rally and at opposite sides has attached thereto bracket bases 31 with long upstandin spaced arms 32 at the upper side, and shorter depending spaced arms 33 at the under side of the head as viewed in Figures 6 and 7. These arms are spaced similarly to the inside links 23 and their ends are pivotally connected to the ends of outside links 23 of the chain by pivot studs 24 and spacing sleeves 25 such as are used .in the chain itself. These studs also connect to the links, the upper ends of diagonal cross braces 30 riveted to the inside faces of the sides 28 and serving to brace and maintain these sides in permanently correct relation to the head 27 of the piston. V

The distance between the chain-connected points of arms 32 and 33 is equivalent to the length of a chain link 23. To the chamtered edge of the head 27 is suitably attached a suction-producing packing strap 34; of leather or other suitable material having its abutting edges appropriately joined and held to the head by a metal strap 35.

The strap or packing 34L flares outwardly and extends to a-point'substantially. above the top face of the head. It is normally of a maximum diameter greater than the internal diameter of the suction cylinder 6, and is pressed inwardly into tight engagement with the walls of the cylinder as it enters the cylinder through the tapered sides of the bottom section 5. As seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, the piston spacingsleeves 25 are engagedby the sprocket wheel hooks 21 at opposite sides of thepocket 22 with one sideor half of the piston seating in the pocket. I r

The structure of the piston admits of ready replacement of the packing straps and both the straps and head are subject to emergency replacement without waiting to obtain factory made parts. Since pumps of this character are al1nost universally used on farms which are frequently isolated, a con struction permitting home-made repairs is especially advantageous. Strap leather for packing and hardwood suitable for shaping piston heads are practically always available. It is to be recognized,-ot course, that-the head may be formed of material other than wood and that the head and sides may be cast or pressed of metal as a unitary struc ture.

As the pistons. are drawn up through the lower cylinder 2 by the turning of the chain around the sprocket wheels through operation of crank handle 14, the sides 28 which are rigid with and perpendicular to the edge of the piston head first engage the sides of the suction cylinder 6 and automatically center the head of the piston relatively to the bore of this cylinder so'that maximum contact is obtained and effective suction'se cured.

As the piston is drawn up through the converging portion of the lowercylinder 5, resistanceto its entrance into the suction section 6 is offered by water or air or both which is caught between the sides of the piston and the tapering walls of the upper end of section 5, and is compressed as the piston enters into the suction portion 6 of the pump cylinder. To relieve this compression, l have provided a bypass in the form of a tube connecting the interior of the section 6 at its point of junction with lower section 5, with section 5 preferably at a point below its tapered portion, and additionally, the sides of the lower end of the suction cylinder 6 in line with the pipe 36 are provided with a circumferential series of slots 37. Obviously, these slots are positioned below the water level. otthe'well or reservoir, so as not to prevent water suction by the pistons. Theoperation of a series oi chain carried pistons of this general type to draw by suction, the water of the well or reservoir up cylinder 6 to the dischalge point, iswell known and need not be repeated.

The construction provided by the'present invention not only improves the operation of the pump, but simplifies its construction and maintenance. The [disclosed embodiments of my improvementsare. productive of 1. In a pump, a cylinder having an upper suction section of one diameter and a lower section of greater diameter converging-into a lower junction with said upper section, a piston having suction-creating packing arranged to engage the Walls of' the suction section, means for moving said piston upwardly from the lower section into the suction section, and means located adjacent to the junction of the two cylinder sections for relieving the compression between the piston and the converging walls of the lower section adjacent to said junction point.

2. In a pump, a cylinder having adjacent sections of small and larger diameter joined by converging walls, a piston of a diameter closely to fit the smaller cylinder section having its packing engaging said converging walls adjacent to the section junction point, and a compression releasing opening in the cylinder wall adjacent to said point.

3. In a well pump, a cylinder having an upper suction section of one diameter and a lower completely immersed section of greater diameter with walls converging into a junction with the upper section, a piston formed closely to engage the walls of the first section and withits packing engaging said converging walls adjacent to said junction and creating compression between pis ton and wall, and a plurality of compression relieving openings in the cylinder wall adjacent to said junction point.

4. In a well pump, a cylinder having an upper suction section of one diameter and a lower completely immersed section of greater diameter with walls converging into a junction with the upper section, a piston formed closely to engage the walls of the first section and with its packing engaging said converging walls adjacent to said junction and creating compression between piston and wall, the walls of said cylinder having compression relieving slots formed therein adjacent to said junction point. i

5. In a well pump, a cylinder having an upper suction section of one diameter and a completely immersed section of greater diameter with walls converging into a junction with the upper section, a piston formed closely to engage the walls of the first section and with its packing engaging said converging walls adjacent to said junction and creating compression between piston and wall, and a compression relieving by-pass connecting the interior of the cylinder between a point adjacent to said junction and a point in the lower cylinder substantially below said junction.

6. In a well'pump, a cylinder having an upper suction section of one diameter and a lower completely immersed section of greater diameter with walls converging into a junction with the upper section, a piston formed closely to engage the walls of the first section and with its packing engaging said converging walls adjacent to said junction and creating compression between piston and wall, and a compression relieving by-pass connecting the interior of the cylinder between a point adjacent to said junction and a pointin the lower cylinder substantially below said junction with a circumferential series of compression-relieving slots in said cylinder wall at said junction point.

7 In a suction pump,a cylinder having a central suction section and top and bottom enlargements converging into said suction section and having supporting guides, an endless carrier mounted over said guides and alined thereby to pass centrally through the bore of the cylinder, a plurality of pistons on said carrier in determinate spaced relation, one of said pistons having acircular head mounting peripheral packing and hating alined arcuate side portions positioned to engage the cylinder walls in advance of the head to center the head in the bore of the cylinder.

8. A pump piston comprising a circular disk with peripherally alined side guides extended upwardly therefrom and periphery attached packing.

9. A pump piston comprising a circular diskwith chamfered peripheral edge and having attached thereto andextending upwardly therefrom peripherally alined side guides, and strap packing secured to and extending beyond said chamfered edge.

10. A pump piston comprising a solid circular head of wood with chamfered peripheral edge, arcuate side pieces rigidly attached to a face of the head and alined with the periphery thereof, strap packing secured to and extending beyond said chamfered edge, and brackets secured to opposite faces of the head centrally thereof, and having attaching arms extending outwardly and oppositely from the head and substantially perpendicular thereto.

11. A pump piston for chain pumps, comprising a solid circular head with chamfered peripheral edge and arcuate peripherally alined side guiding faces, packingattaChed tosaid edge of the head, brackets secured to opposite faces of the head centrallythereof and having pairs of spaced chain link arms extending outwardly and oppositely from the head in perpendicular relation thereto and formed for attachment to the cross links of chain-link sections, and cross braces extending from said side faces to a pair of said link arms for connection there with to a cross'link.

* JAMES F; STRUBLE 

